In the quiet town of Westbrook, Maine, a grim discovery brought a tragic end to the story of the Allard family in the winter of 1968. Roger G. Allard, a 47-year-old man, was found deceased in his home on February 8th. The initial scene gave way to a far more horrific reality as authorities uncovered the bodies of his wife, Frances, 43, and their two children, 12-year-old Susan and 17-year-old Peter Charles.
All four had been shot in the head.
The investigation into the violent deaths that shattered the peace of their Pride's Corner residence would soon reveal a chilling sequence of events. Authorities determined that the case was a murder-suicide, with the teenage son, Peter, as the perpetrator. Evidence found at the scene, including a "wild" suicide note, led investigators to the conclusion that the boy had shot his father, mother, and younger sister before turning a gun on himself. Two rifles were discovered beside his body.
A relative's concern after being unable to contact the family for nearly a week prompted the eventual discovery of the frozen bodies within their home. The Cumberland County Attorney at the time confirmed that the four bodies were found in various rooms of the house. The revelation that the deaths were the result of an internal family tragedy meant there was no search for outside suspects, and no arrests were made in the case. The community was left to grapple with the shocking loss of an entire family at the hands of one of their own.
